Cigarette case



E. B. HOUGH CIGARETTE CASE April 24, 1928. 7 1,666,902

Filed July 21, 1926 INVENTOR.

W M' A TTORNEYS.

Fig. 1

Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

PATENT or Flee.

EDWARD B. HOUGI-I, or PROVIDENCE, mronnfrsnmm.

CIGARETTE) .cA sE.

Applicationfiled'Jul-y 21, 1926. Serial no, 123,851.

This invention relates to a cigarette case adapted to securely hold cigarettes while being carried and yet permit them to be easily and quickly removed therefrom when desired; The invention relates more partlcularly to a case provided with means which allow the-cigarettes to be removed by sliding them crosswise of the case without disturbing the other cigarettes in the case, and without raising any retaining member'such as is desirable in order to prevent the cigarettes from falling out when the case is open.

The invention further relates to an arrangement andcons-truction of the retaining member or arm, whereby it is normally lockedrin positionparal'lelwith the cigarettes in the case, and opens automatically when released from its locked position to permit the case to be refilled with cigarettes,

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particulardescription of one ,form of adevice embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also consists in certain new and novelfeatures of construction and combinations of parts hereinaftersetforth and claimed;

In the drawings: Fig. 1. isa View of the case i i-perspective with the cover open;

Fig. 2 is a section on theline 22 of Fig. 1; v I

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 4. is a detail plan viewof the bezel; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewon the line 55 of Fig. 1'; and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 through the hinge;

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified-by; specific names for convenience, but they are intended to he as generic in their application to simi lar parts as the art will'permit;

Referring to the drawings,'. the container comprises "caseor cover members or sections 10 and llpreferably of rectangular configuration, hingedtogether on oneof the shorter sides. Each of the members is ofshallow depth and of substantially the same dimensions. a I

Around the edges of one case member a bezel 13 is. secured'by solder or other suit able means, or formed integral with the case. The other member also'has a similar bezel 14; around the edges on three ofits sides, this bezel forming a lip projectinginward ly to form a stop for the cigarettes. On the remaining side, which is preferably one of the longersides, the bezel is formed with a flat surface 15' adjacent the outer edge flush with the bezels' on the other'edges of the same case member, but instead of terminating as the other bezels'it is provided with an extension 161Which slopes downwardly and inwardly toward the" bottom of the case member, so asto form-an inclined guideway for the cigarettes when it is desired to remove them from the case. The lower; edge 17 of .this extension engages the. case memberll and may be soldered or securedthereto in any suitable mannertogform a neat and practically invisible joint. 7

A spring. actuatedlatch member 18 is .secured to the edge of the case oppositethe hinge to-holdthe casemembers in closed position. A-n arm 19 is hinged in line with the cover section hinge, and extends substantially the full length of the-cover and over the cigarettes 20 contained therein-to hold them-in their placed position. The-armis located preferably somewhat closer to the longer side of the cover having a; bezel 14, rather than to the side having the curved guide 16. The arm-as wellas the two-cover sections are; hinged together by pintles 21, 22 and'23, as shown in Fig; 6, which pass through eyes 24 formed in the case members In additionto their hinge functions the. pintles 21 and 22 act as torsional springs, the pintle 21 urging the arm 19 intoraised position and the pintle 22gurging the members 10 and 11 into open position. The pintle 23 which is of short length may. be positioned .withinthe arm eye 25 and a hinge eye 24 to fill the space between the inner. ends of pintles 21 and-22. The bezel of the cover sectionll is cut away to provide arecess or socket- 26 for the arm. and allows a degree of lateral or transverse movement in a plane parallel with the cigarettes in the case. The free end of the arm is provided with an eX- tension or finger 27 of a length and width permitting it to pass through a notch 28 provided in the bezel at a point approximately opposite the hinge, and to seat in interlocking position beneath the bezel, whereby the arm is held down and in contact with the cigarettes and against the tension of the spring which automatically elevates the same when the arm is moved manually opposite the notch.

In operation, with the container and retaining arm in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the case member filled with cigarettes, all that is necessary, when it is desired to remove any one or a number ofthe cigarettes from the container, is to push them outward with the hand. Then the curved guide portion of the bezel raises the opposite end of the cigarette so that it slides out above the edge where it can be readily grasped by the fingers. The position of the retaining arm to one side of the center permits the cigarettes to be elevated into position to be grasped without lifting said arm and without disengaging the retaining finger from the lip or bezel. When it is desired to refill the case it is only necessary to give the arm a slight sidewise motion so as to bring the finger into register with the notch whereupon the spring automatically elevates the arm, thus leaving the case section open to receive a fresh supply of cigarettes.

By means of this constructionl eliminate one of the notable objections to a cigarette case provided with a projecting bezel which necessarily requires the retaining arm to be lifted and usually requires both hands to be employed in removing a cigarette without tearing the wrapper. My improved case can be readily opened and a cigarette re moved by the use of one hand, since the position of the retaining arm is such that it is not necessary to either raise it or disengage its finger from the case in order to take out one of the cigarettes. The guide is so constructed that it is not particularly noticeable when the cigarettes are in place, and the case to a casual observer presents the same gen eral appearance as a case with a standard bezel. The curved guide moreover tends to strengthen the case by forming a re-enfor-cement to one edge thereof, and by proper care in manufacture it presents a pleasing and novel appearance, since the joint if properly made is not visible except upon careful inspection.

Furthermore, the retaining arm may remain in its closed or locked position so long as any cigarettes are left in the case. Gonsequently, the manipulation of the arm which is required every time a cigarette is removed when the arm is yieldingly held by a spring in contact with the cigarettes, is completely avoided. It is only necessary to give the arm a slight sideways push with the hand so as to bring the finger into register with the notch, whereupon the spring hinge automatically raises the arm and holds it in its raised position. Thus the case may be refilled without manipulation of or interference by the arm. The bez-els on both case members are cut away adjacent the arm at the hinge end of the case, which allows the necessary lateral or sidewise movement of the arm upon its spring pintle, without affecting the swinging motion of the arm. The arm is then pulled down and interlocked with the bezel in its cigarette holding position as soon as the case is refilled.

While I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its opera tion may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: I V

1. The combination with the hinged cover sections of a cigarette case, of a rigid arm mounted on the pintle of said ease to swing on said pintle and have lateral movement with respect to said case sections, a bezel providedwith a notch on one of said case members, a finger on said arm adapted to pass through said notch and interlock with said bezel, and a spring for raising said arm out of contact with said case member when the linger is released from interlocking engagement with said bezel.

A cigarette holder comprising hinged case members, an edge of one of said case members being provided with a bezel having an extension curved downward and inward to engage with the case member, another edge of said case member being provided with a notch, an arm substantially the length of the case and positioned to one side of thelongitudinal center thereof, said arm being provided with a finger adapted to pass through said notch to engage beneath said edge to lock said arm in position overlying cigarettes in the case.

3. A cigarette holder comprising a pair of case members, each of said members being substantially thinner than a cigarette whereby when closed said members are adapted to .form a chamber of substantially the thickness of a cigarette, an edge of one of said members being provided with a bezel eX- tending downwardly and inwardly therefrom and forming an incline for guiding said cigarette thereover, the'inner portion of said bezel being of such shape and so positioned with respect to said case members the centre thereof away from said bezel, the

thickness of said case member and the position of said retaining arm being so related as to permit Withdrawal of said cigarette without substantial bending thereof, the cigarette containing compartment being of a 10 Width substantially equal to the length of the cigarette.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

7 EDWARD B. HOUGH. 

